Local girl lands plane only feet from interstate

BURLINGTON, N.C. – A 12-year-old girl landed her family’s four-passenger plane only 10 feet from Interstate 51 after her father lost consciousness on an early-morning trip back from Grand Rapids, Mich., according to officials.

The girl, Alyssa Shanahan of Burlington, was pressed into action and wound up landing the plane, which overshot the runway, skidded across an open field and smashed through a chain link fence alongside the interstate’s northbound lane at 4:05 p.m. during rush hour, according to police. No one on the ground was injured.

“It could have been much worse,” said Fire Chief Tony Sullivan. “There were a lot of startled people when that plane came at them.”

Police say that James Shanahan was piloting the plane for his wife, Mary, and daughters, Adrienne and Alyssa, when he lost consciousness, causing the plane to begin a slow dive 100 miles east of Greensboro.

“There was nothing I could do,” Mary said. “I couldn’t reach the controls. And even if I could have, I don’t think I could have helped.”

According to Mary, James, who has 30 years of flying experience, had been complaining about dizziness and shortness of breath before the incident occurred.

Police say that James was about to contact the control tower at Burlington Regional Airport to request an emergency landing when he slumped over in his seat.

It was then that 4-foot-3-inch Alyssa took control of the plane, shoved her father’s arms away from the controls and feet off the rudders and responded to the control tower’s calls.

Peter Jacobs, the control tower flight manager for Burlington Regional Airport, directed other aircrafts away from the airport during the emergency and stayed in contact with Alyssa the whole time, instructing her on what to do.

“I could hear the passengers screaming in the background,” Jacobs said. “I think they were getting a bit panicky up there.”

With Jacobs’s help, Alyssa was able to bring the aircraft down, causing only minor damage to the plane’s landing gears and undercarriage.

“I was a little scared because I couldn’t reach the pedals very well,” Alyssa said. “I was more worried about my Daddy. I just wanted to get on the ground and get help for him.”

After landing, James was taken to Mercy Hospital for observation. Doctors there said he suffered an allergic reaction to a prescription medicine he had begun taking that morning, but he’s now in satisfactory condition.

Mary was treated for a broken wrist and a cut on her forehead, and Adrienne suffered only minor cuts and bruises. Alyssa was not injured.

“I’ve been flying with my Daddy since I was a little girl,” Alyssa said. “He taught me all about flying. I couldn’t be too scared because I want to be a pilot like my Daddy someday.”